John W. Olver Design Building

Amherst, Massachusetts

Located in Amherst, the University of Massachusetts has established a new design pavilion. The University decided to use wood as the main structural material in order to have a sustainable structure respectful of the environment. Comprising three different hybrid elements—wood-concrete, steel-concrete, and steel-wood, the pavilion incorporates the latest technology in the field of structural building design. Floors are made with a composite system of cross-laminated timber panels mechanically fastened to a concrete slab using innovative connectors, a first in the United States. This pavilion is a teaching demonstration of the potential for using different building materials in the same project.